BYU softball: Cougars travel to last preseason tournament

The BYU softball team will play Maine in a double header on Thursday before playing LIU Brooklyn and Providence College on Saturday to close out its preseason games.

PROVO, Utah — The BYU softball team travels to Florida this weekend to play Maine in a double header on Thursday at 1 p.m. EST and 3, and then LIU Brooklyn and Providence College on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., respectively, in its final preseason tournament at the USF Under Armour Showcase. Games will be played at the USF Softball Stadium and the Eddie C. Moore Complex.

BYU quick hits

BYU played in its last USF Under Armour Showcase in 2009 where it defeated Indiana 6-0 and Ball State 5-4 but lost to Hofstra 4-0 and No. 23 Florida Gulf Coast 5-4.

This will be BYU’s last preseason tournament before returning to Provo for its home opener on March 19 against Marist College.

Junior pitcher Tori Almond went 2-0 in the San Diego Classic, pitching 9.2 innings and giving up only five hits and two earned runs. She also struck out 10 and held opponents to a .152 average. Almond was named PCSC Pitcher of the Week.

Senior shortstop JC Clayton continued her hitting streak throughout the San Diego Classic and still has a hit in every game of the season but one. She is currently sitting at a 19-game hitting streak. Clayton was also named PCSC Player of the Week for the second-straight week.

Pitching rotation

Due to injuries within the BYU pitching staff, former high school pitchers Katie Manuma and Carly Duckworth will each see some time on the mound this season. Both pitchers made their first appearances of the season in the San Diego Classic. Manuma pitched 3.2 innings, giving up two earned runs on six hits. Duckworth pitched one inning and held opponents to zero earned runs on two hits.

Grand ole’ slam

Junior infielder Katie Manuma hit her first career grand slam against UC Santa Barbara at the Mary Nutter Classic. Down 10-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Cougars rallied to score three runs and bring up Manuma with the bases loaded. Manuma took advantage with a bomb that tied up the game at 10-10 and sent the game into extra-innings. BYU wasn’t able to keep the momentum in the eight and surrendered two runs to the Gauchos for the 12-10 loss. This was BYU’s first grand slam of the season and Manuma’s third home run.

Manuma is currently hitting .311 with 11 runs scored, 20 RBIs and 32 total bases. Manuma has hit a home run in every tournament of the season so far, leading the team and conference with four.

Streaking Clayton

JC Clayton is currently tied for the third longest hitting-streak in BYU history. She is only two games away from tying the record set by former BYU player and current assistant coach, Ianeta Le’i. Clayton is also tied for the second longest hitting-streak in the Pacific Coast Conference and is two games away from tying the record.